christopher price

Why BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a difference-maker for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI

FOXBORO -- Over the course of the 2011 season, no Patriots’ skill position has seen more change than running back.

New England opened the year with BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the primary back, moved to a rotation that included rookie Stevan Ridley (with an occasional dose of Danny Woodhead and Kevin Faulk sprinkled in for good measure), and now, after a period where he appeared to be slowed because of a toe injury, the job appears to rest with Green-Ellis once again.

Green-Ellis has a lot of positives in his game -- when healthy, he’s consistent, steady and sure-handed. (He still hasn’t fumbled as a pro.) No one had more touches on offense this season than Green-Ellis with 190 (181 carries, nine receptions), and for the amount of work he gets, has an extraordinary ability to make something out of nothing. He finished the year with just 11 negative plays, an average of one negative play for every 19 times he touched the football.

But after a solid start to the 2011 season where it appeared he was at or near pace for his second-straight 1,000-yard season, he hit a wall. In the first game against the Giants on Nov. 6, Green-Ellis was in the midst of a difficult stretch where he was hobbled by a toe injury that rendered him most ineffective for much of the second half of the season. He did gain 52 yards on 12 carries against the Giants, but that was sandwiched around a nine-yard outing against the Steelers and an eight-yard game against the Jets. Against the Giants, there was some hint of his physical approach, but it was clear he wasn’t at 100 percent.

Also figuring into the dramatic dip in his production was the fact that New England had gone to a rotation at running back. Whether it was because of an uptick in the play of rookie Stevan Ridley, a situational wrinkle or simply because Green-Ellis was injured, Ridley started to consistently take more and more snaps from Green-Ellis. Whatever the reason, over the last eight games of the season, Green-Ellis had just game when he ran for 50-plus yards. One year after topping the 1,000-yard mark, it was a disappointing follow up for Green-Ellis, ending the season with 181 carries for 667 yards for just a 3.7-yard average.

But last Sunday in the AFC championship against the Ravens -- a defense every bit as physical as the one New England will face next Sunday in Indianapolis, which ended the year second in the league against the run -- it was a different story. With Ridley a healthy scratch, Green-Ellis was back to his old physical self. He was used relatively sparingly, but still finished with 27 snaps, more than any game in the last two months. (The last time he broke 30 snaps was Nov. 21 when he had 33 snaps in a win over the Chiefs.)

He was at his most consistent on New England’s first drive of the second quarter, when he accounted for 36 of the 75 yards on the series (including runs up the middle of 11 and 13 yards) with five carries, including a seven-yard burst up the middle for the touchdown where he displayed extraordinary patience waiting for blocks to develop. In the end, he finished with a game-high 68 yards on 15 attempts for a 4.5-yard average.

And heading into a rematch with the Giants, it’s important to note that the presence of Green-Ellis is one of the biggest differences between the 2007 Patriots and this year’s edition. While Laurence Maroney was more of a home-run hitter, Green-Ellis is a far more consistent runner. While that’s not to say he isn’t capable of big plays, Green-Ellis more likely to hit that four yards-per-carry number, not fumble, and keep the chains moving.

The other thing that’s important to remember is that when it comes to defending the Patriots, the Giants will look to slow down the passing game first and foremost. In their first matchup this season, according to Pro Football Focus, New York had at least five defensive backs on the field for each snap. If the Giants load up with their scheme of four primary pass rushers and utilize nickel and dime coverage against New England, it would certainly open up some opportunities in the running game for the Patriots’ running game, and Green-Ellis in particular.

Bottom line? A healthy dose of Green-Ellis would be a game-changer, particularly when it comes to taking some heat off quarterback Tom Brady with draws. His presence would add another defensive wrinkle for a Giants’ team that figures to already have its’ hands full when it comes to defending Brady, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski.

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